Hobie tack - rudder direction

FlashGordon7

New Member
I have a Hobie 16 and they don't tack that well. When I was in my ASA class I'm pretty sure my instructor said that a tack was always pushing the rudder away from you and a jibe was always pulling the rudder towards you. I have seen similar statements on the web. I assume the captain is sitting the opposite side of the sail. So is this pushing/pulling of the rudder statement true or does it depend on which direction the wind is coming from? I understand that a tack is turning into the wind and a jibe is turning towards the wind. Jibe's aren't supposed to be that safe on a Hobie cat so I'm trying to figure out which turn I'm making.
 
tacking is when the bow goes through the wind, aka pointing into the wind,

jibing or gybing is when you change tack with the bow pointing away from the wind,

jibes can be dangerous because the boom comes across the boat with alot more force and with less warning, so when you get ready to jibe always warn your crew "ready to jibe?" "Jibing" (heads down), jibing in strong winds is also more difficult because you can capsize/yardsale pretty easily, with practice you'll be able to handle jibing with ease, start out in light winds and work your way up

if you're sitting on the windward side, to tack you'll push the tiller away from you and to jibe you'll pull it toward you
 
tacking is when the bow goes through the wind, aka pointing into the wind,

jibing or gybing is when you change tack with the bow pointing away from the wind,

jibes can be dangerous because the boom comes across the boat with alot more force and with less warning, so when you get ready to jibe always warn your crew "ready to jibe?" "Jibing" (heads down), jibing in strong winds is also more difficult because you can capsize/yardsale pretty easily, with practice you'll be able to handle jibing with ease, start out in light winds and work your way up

if you're sitting on the windward side, to tack you'll push the tiller away from you and to jibe you'll pull it toward you

Ditto Laserx. Pushing or pulling depends on which side of the boat you're on. TO TACK, STEER "UP" INTO THE WIND. TO JYBE, STEER "DOWN" AWAY FROM THE WIND.
 

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